May 6th, 2023
Forte, Frigus 15th, 1193 (Continued)
We gather for our meeting with Nadal and Tharivol and go over our exploits thus far. We learn that Glorfindel was a red dragon who was eventually redeemed by a gold dragon and that the fortress may have been a temple of Glorfindel’s followers. The Order of Thought may know more about the entombed dragonpriest. Durgeddin the Black, mentioned in our scrap of dwarven notes, was a famous smith who was fleeing with his clan from a marauding force from the west; they were probably only staying here briefly while searching for a better place. Tharivol doesn’t think that it’s related to the Grimstone/Kovar temple that we found. Korvar is a demigod of crafting, cursed by El, and worshiped by duergar. Grimstone was a weak king that was taken over by duergar Kovar worshipers. Tharivol tells us more about halcyon druids– they act like a bridge between the spirit world and the natural world, and it could have been that proximity to other worlds that lead Tolm astray.
The druidic book may have been Tolm’s notes and his staff is made of Frosting Iron, which was a favored material of a god that is no longer around. Tharivol suggests consulting Reverend Mikail, from the Parish of Everlasting Knowledge. He is a nosferatu, which is a kind of vampire that is more interested in knowledge than tyranny, and is well versed in the Architects, as he was “alive” when they were active.
Bellum, Frigus 16th, 1193
We head back to the Inevitable Order to try and ID Tolm’s staff, in which Nadal is successful. It has, what they call, Otherworldly Mind, that protects it; which means either the Architects made it, or Tolm found it. Under certain circumstances, it may cause slow effects on those it strikes. Reverend Mikail is available tonight for a meeting.
While we wait for our meeting, Sigmund will use magic to read Tolm’s journal. It contains lots of notes about his gardening, specifics about that fancy dirt and its effects, and twig blight creation.
We go back to the Inevitable Order for our late night meeting, where Reverend Mikail, a halfling, joins us. The lack of astrological equipment means that either Tolm was doing the carvings from memory or visions, or that it was there from before he arrived. Mikail can ID one of the akata that we encounted as being mana wasted and another as nightmare. He’s concerned that something from the Underdark could find the akata eggs and that if Sharwin is still unaccounted for, that could be bad. Regarding the Architects, he is confident that they are no longer around and that there is another group, the Celestial Attendants, that are doing something similar. This group is not known to Nadal or Tharivol. The Celestial Attendants, while not as focused, are still dangerous. It seems to be that they found something powerful and are messing around with it.
We confirm that part of the Architect’s protection was that their language would only be visible in their presence, which is a working theory about Ty’s book and why the passages aren’t always be seen. Mikail’s theory is that the dagger first marked Graynor and that the dagger’s purpose is to summon a god, so our purple haze effect may still be part of that god’s summoning.
Tharivol has news for Sigmund about Delanshire; the official report stats that agents of Neith tried to corrupt their well, but Tharivol believes it was actually followers of Zandru who were responsible. Zandru’s tenants often involve impersonating other religions to cause problems. Avarra, who tends to the well, has now sent armed guards for protection.
Sigmund stays behind a little bit to talk with Reverend Mikail about his oracle gifts.
Iustitia, Frigus 17th, 1193
Our supplies are provided by the temple and we set out again; it will take about 4.5 days of travel.
Terra, Frigus 21st, 1193
We arrive in Westermoor and speak with Laurel and find out that they were able to trace the black scour to a section of crops, in which she does not suspect foul play. We stay the night at the inn.
Forte, Frigus 22nd, 1193
We arrive back at the fortress and find that there are many more kobolds here that have red scale insignia. The kobolds also have a passage to the Underdark that they’re guarding.
We check on the akata pods and find that there are 18 unmolested. We force open five of them and kill two normal, a nightmare (need good [regeneration] or silver), a psychoplasmic (need magic), and an unknown variety. If we find more mana wasted akata we will need cold iron to bypass it’s DR. These pods are too heavy to move without great effort– how did they get here?